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The LBX Collective aims to inform and educate, create opportunities to connect with industry peers, and to spur collaboration, discourse, and cross-pollination of ideas in the location-based entertainment and experience industry.
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Proudly sponsored by Intercard!
482 Episodes
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Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's episode of Sound Off, we challenge the hype around mixed reality and debate where tactile, social play still wins. Consolidation, IP land grabs, cinema’s cultural shift, and the rise of premium watch-party venues shape the next year for amusement and location-based entertainment. • Mixed Reality’s latency gaps versus laser tag’s instant feedback • Genda’s acquisitions, China footprint, and supply chain strategy • Oxygen absorbs Ninj...
Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's show, Susan DeBottis, VP of Adventure and Entertainment at Easol joins me as we discuss the path from first click to first visit, showing how brand-aligned booking and a single view of inventory turn group demand into profit. Plus: two Arcade Corner segments with Adam Pratt full of IAAPA reveals, Kevin Williams on global openings and closures, and Chuck DeMonte with a Black Friday plan you can deploy now. • why corporate group sales...
Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's episode we argue for an upscale shift in prize experiences, a sober view on tariffs and show strategy, and a sharper ROI lens on VR. Big brands face 2026 pressure as multi-attraction venues, collectible-forward cranes, and arena-scale content set the pace. • Upscaling prize centers with premium collectibles and frictionless redemption • Tariff volatility, shutdown impacts, and investor caution • Six Flags activism, Merlin restructur...
Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's episode we take a fast tour through the latest wins, misses, and pivots in location-based entertainment. We weigh connected pinball, branded "pour" games, and why good branding beats big square footage. • IAAPA Expo preview with LBX Collective's booth speakeasy details • Give Kids The World Golf tourney, 1K, and 5K fundraisers • Arcade Heroes launches an Arcade Hall of Fame • Scorbit 2.0 and the rise of connected pinball • Branded p...
Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's episode we start off debating the clawcade surge, asking where these crane-only venues work, when they fail, and how branding and location shape outcomes. Then we track major shifts across immersive free-roam, cinema–streaming tie-ups, leadership changes at big park groups, and the rise of social shooting galleries. • viability of clawcades and fair operation • importance of high-traffic sites and matching IP • mixed-use models like...
Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's episode, we unpack a fast-moving month for leading up to IAAPA: from our hidden speakeasy on the show floor to Give Kids the World charity runs to Meow Wolf’s digital twin strategy, a Dungeons and Dragons immersive quest, and the trade-offs between giant single-format builds and mixed-use venues. We close with practical marketing math on out-of-home frequency, plus arcade updates from Raw Thrills and Exa Arcadia. • IAAPA show floor ...
Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's episode we discuss the idea that amusement and location-based entertainment must think like transmedia businesses, using brand collaborations, smart memberships, and flexible programming to drive visits and resilience. Then, as we continue to dive into trends from tariff shocks to XR’s next act, we break down what actually works on the floor. • McDonald’s x Street Fighter and Disney merch proving transmedia pull • How facilities lev...
Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's episode, Clint Novak joins for a Guest Gab to discuss how to turn a “slow” season into a growth window with early Black Friday planning, smarter inventory, and signature events that bring families back. Along the way, we track market shifts, new attractions, and arcade releases, and honor the legacy of Paul Williams. • IAAPA Expo plans, LBX Collective speakeasy returns in booth 4402 • Give Kids The World charity golf, 5K and 1K, tea...
Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's episode we explore how “legacy” can be leverage, not a limit, and why nostalgia only works when it fuels the next wave of experiences. From Disney’s soft attendance to Netflix House pricing, we break down what’s hype, what’s working, and what operators should adjust now. • leveraging legacy IP without getting stuck in the past • nostalgiatainment trends and Retroescapes viability • theme park economics and Orlando softness • Hallowe...
Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's episode BW lays out the FEC Education opportunities at IAAPA Expo in Orlando and joins John Keys from Centeredge as they discuss how memberships become revenue engines. Then we scan global openings, preview new arcade releases, and share a simple, repeatable promo system that keeps guests coming back. • rundown of IAAPA FEC education sessions • why the Global Benchmark Report matters now • nostalgiatainment potential and risks with ...
Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's episode we challenge the LBE industry to build real education and standards while tracking major shifts—from Orlando softness and capital moves to AR sports, IP consolidation, and the line between tech promise and operational reality. Practical lessons emerge on spectatorship, repeatability, and mapping the right tech to the right use case. • lack of standardized education pathways for LBE operators • limits of event-based learning ...
Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's episode, we cover the deadline for IAAPA's Brass Ring Award submissions for the top FEC and LBE of the year award, a court decision that rattles waivers for minors, and why brand clarity matters more than ever for LBEs and FECs. We also call out a launch-day website miss, spotlight a smart bakery + mini golf combo, and analyze new openings from Timezone, Andretti, and more. • Brass Ring judges value across service, safety, cleanline...
Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's episode we debate the value of exhibiting at trade shows, highlighting how companies must carefully evaluate their exhibition strategy and clear objectives before investing in booth space. • Making smart decisions about trade show participation based on what you want to achieve • H1B visa changes causing confusion and concern for companies employing international expertise • Lego taking control of 29 Legoland Discovery Centers from ...
Sponsored by Intercard! Sponsored by Alan-1! On this week's episode we dive into the major news and developments from IAAPA Expo Europe 2025, explore LEGO's $270 million acquisition of all LEGOLAND Discovery Centers, and provide essential Q4 holiday promotion strategies. • LEGO acquires all 29 LEGOLAND Discovery Centers from Merlin Entertainment for $270 million, signaling a major shift in IP owner involvement in LBE • IAAPA Expo Europe draws 15,877 verified attendees across 121 countries, w...
Sponsored by Intercard! The location-based entertainment industry evolves as venues adapt to changing consumer preferences and adopt new technologies. Karting experiences shift from high-speed racing to slower, more accessible gamified attractions without helmets. • Traditional karting transforms with digital elements and e-karts to create more social, accessible experiences • Dave & Buster's faces financial challenges with 3% sales decline and admits previous remodeling efforts failed •...
Sponsored by Intercard! On this week's LBX Show, BW and friends discuss how the location-based entertainment industry shows signs of recalibration with a slowdown in new openings while established brands pursue ambitious expansion plans and technology integrations reshape arcade experiences. We review industry developments including Sega's leadership change, F1 Arcade's Vegas debut, and how NRG Adventure Park plans to open 100 locations in just four years. • Recent soft opening of Do the Bea...
Sponsored by Intercard! On this week's Sound Off with Kevin Williams we examine the evolving landscape of location-based entertainment, from terminology debates to financial challenges and technological innovations. The episode explores how traditional experiences are being reimagined through gamification, VR evolution, and the resurgence of mall arcades. • Debate over industry terminology: "facility" versus "venue" for describing entertainment spaces • Cinema industry seeing Gen Z and...
Sponsored by Intercard! On this week's LBX Show, BW starts with News You Should Know and shares his experience at the International Adventure and Trampoline Park Association Annual Convention and IntelliPlay's reception of the Innovation Excellence Award. Then Kevin Williams dives into the latest openings and closings in the industry. • FastTrax opens Florida's largest indoor go-kart facility with 2,000 feet of track across three different racing experiences • Nine Below in Milwa...
Sponsored by Intercard! On this week's Sound Off with Kevin Williams we discuss how the location-based entertainment landscape is transforming as Gen Z abandons video games for social experiences, driving significant industry shifts and strategic acquisitions. Economic pressures, including tariffs and shipping challenges, force companies to adapt while major players like Genda expand globally and shopping malls embrace entertainment as anchors. • 13% drop in video game sales among Gen ...
Sponsored by Intercard! On this week's show Brandon and Kevin join Rob Morgan, author of "Storytelling for Spatial Computing and Mixed Reality: The Art of Augmenting Imagination" and lead narrative designer at Wake the Tiger in London for a Guest Gab segment exploring the art of storytelling and spatial computing. • Shifting from VR to AR storytelling and focusing on how AR makes players the protagonist • Defining the differences between VR, AR, and MR, while acknowledging that exact definit...
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